STAY MOTIVATED FOR LIFE

How understanding the neuroscience of motivation gives you the tools to keep your mojo fully firing for the long run.

- Charlotte Ricca

WHERE DOES YOUR MOTIVATION TAKE YOU? DOES IT POWER YOU TO THE END OF AN ULTRA? OR SIMPLY TO DRAG YOUR BACKSIDE OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING AND PUT YOUR TAKKIES ON THE TAR?

Whatever your goals, motivation is the force that gets you there. It drives our actions and behaviours. It’s the ‘why’ behind what we do. Unlike ingrained habits, motivation isn’t a constant; as we all know from experience, it ebbs and flows according to our mood, energy levels, lifestyle, relationships and much more.

“There are a number of factors that affect our motivation,” says neuroscientist Gabija Toleikyte, author of Why The F*ck Can’t I Change?. “First of all, our brain chemistry fluctuates on a daily basis, and it’s this that creates our moods. This fluctuation can be down to a number of things - including sleep, stress and external factors - all of which affect our emotional states, cognitive abilities and physical abilities. So some days we just don’t feel as motivated or capable as on others.”

You may have noticed how some people always seem motivated to get their running shoes on and nail their training goals. Don’t let this make you feel bad about your own state of mind. There’s a chance they're not being entirely honest with that ‘Let’s go!’ attitude; and there are other factors at play. They may have brains wired for over-achievement.

Broadcaster Enda Brady seems to be that guy. He began running marathons 13 years ago, after his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, to raise funds for Irish cancer charity the Marie Keating Foundation. Since then, Brady has completed 55 marathons and plans to reach 100 by 2027. His achievements also include the 240km For Rangers Ultra in Kenya and two UK 100km Race to the Stones finishes. The 49-year-old brings the same levels of motivation to his career as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, with 25 years of experience at Sky News and ITV.